AROUND a fifth of babies are born by Caesarean section in the UK, mainly because of an urgent or potential medical risk to the mother and baby.

But in recent years the number of women choosing to have their child delivered this way for non-medical reasons has increased.

The so-called "too posh to push" brigade, mostly consisting of career women and celebrities, has sparked criticism that they are opting for major surgery simply because of convenience.

However doctors maintain that the majority of Caesareans - more than 90% - are due to medical reasons and not at the mother's request.

Figures released by the Economic and Social Science Council in June showed that the number of Caesarean births had doubled in the past 30 years, accounting for 22% of all deliveries.

While mothers can ask for an elective Caesarean it is not always granted by the doctor.

The most common reasons for surgery include if there is a danger to the baby or mother, the child is in the breech position making it difficult to deliver naturally, or in cases when the mother has had a Caesarean before.

If labour is not progressing and the mother and baby are in distress it may also be necessary to opt for surgery.

Pre-eclampsia - where the mother suffers dangerously high blood pressure in pregnancy - is also one of the major reasons for a Caesarean birth.

Usually the woman can be given an epidural and will stay awake during the birth, but if there is an immediate danger to her or the baby, she may have to have a general anaesthetic.

The operation is named after Roman leader Julius Caesar who was said to have been born this way.

Until developments in the late 19th century, the mother usually died during surgery.